Moving and Retirement
Aging America: The Cities That Are Graying The Fastest
Joel Kotkin writes: In 2000 only three US metro areas had more elderly than children under the age of 15 (Pittsburgh, Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL). The 2010 Census showed we now have 10, with the addition of Buffalo, Boston, Cleveland, Hartford, Providence, Rochester and San Francisco to the first three. The elderly population is overtaking the younger population not only in Florida’s retirement havens, but in a number of Rust Belt and Northeastern cities. more »
Have You Received the Letter? Medicare Trying To Nudge Seniors Out Of Plans With Low Ratings
Susan Jaffe writes: Medicare officials are trying a novel approach during this open enrollment season to gently nudge a half million beneficiaries out of 26 private drug and medical plans that have performed poorly over the past three years. The effort marks the first time that Medicare officials have tried to steer beneficiaries away from some private drug and medical plans. more »
A Subject for the Next Debate? A New CBO Report on Social Security's Funding Gap
In calendar year 2010, for the first time since the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1983, spending for the program exceeded its dedicated tax revenues. In 2011, spending exceeded dedicated tax revenues by 4 percent, and that gap is growing. CBO projects that over the next decade, spending will exceed dedicated tax revenues, on average, by about 10 percent. more »
Asking the Question: Have You Ever Used a Government Social Program?
John Wihbey writes: Programs included the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction; the HOPE and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits; Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits; 529 (Qualified Tuition Program) or Coverdell Education Savings Account (education IRAs); the Earned Income Tax Credit; and “usage of student loans and employer subsidized health and retirement benefits.” more »
